To Do List

Only 5 days left until Dane is home and I've created a list of things to do before we pick him up at the airport:

• Lose the 20 pounds I've gained in the last 2 years. (I didn't say this was a realistic list !) :0)
• Try and match the hair color I was when Dane last saw me so he'll recognize me.
• Refresh my first aid skills so I can treat Dane for shock when he sees Caleb for the first time. (Caleb has grown at least 8 inches and his voice now sounds like Kent's instead of mine.)
• Collect Dane's belongings from his brothers and sisters and return them to his room. (Mostly dvds, tv, speakers, etc.)
• Finish writing the song I'm going to sing as he comes down the escalator at the airport. (So far no one will agree to sing with me!)

To the tune of "I Hope They Call Me On a Mission"
"I'm glad that you went on a mission,
though it felt like three years instead of two.
You proved that you're a worthy servant,
And oh how the people of Costa Rica love you.

You said that you are now a "Tico",
I was afraid that you would want to stay.
I was ready to come and drag you home,
I'm so happy that you're home and with no delay!

Can you think of any more verses?

The Ringer

My Granny Smith had an old washing machine
with a ringer and a metal tub.
It didn't look exactly like this one but it used the same concept.


I feel like I've been through the ringer lately.
People keep reminding me that trials
are for our good and we're to learn and grow from them.

Some things I think I already knew,
I just needed to be reminded.
Some things I think I needed to feel more deeply
so I could feel more empathy for others.


It is interesting though that most of these trials have come since Kent was called as bishop and the closer to Dane coming home the more they are intensifying. To add injury to insult, Kent's car broke down in Pleasant View today at the church where Kent's nephew was giving his mission farewell speech.
It was almost literally the straw that broke the bishop's back or gave him a heart attack.


Back to learning though.

I have learned that I need to act instead of react.


I have learned that things aren't always as they appear.

I have learned that you have to accept the fact that people are going to misunderstand you and not allow you to explain yourself.


I have learned that the simplest expression of friendship and love
can mean the difference between despair and hope.

I have learned that we can't choose when our trials are over
and we have to allow others their free agency.


Most importantly, I have learned that the
Atonement of Jesus Christ is real
and can heal our pain and grief as well as our sins!

Permission and a Blessing

Last evening I was lying in bed watching a movie when my cell phone rang.

It was Kent who was in Layton (?) visiting his brother Dennis who is in the hospital.

"Caleb just called and told me that Raulon is there to visit me and I think it might be an important visit. Can you go down and cover for me?"

I agreed and went down to the living room to find Naomi's boyfriend standing there.

I asked him if he wanted to sit down.

He did.

I explained where Kent was and he said that the mom usually gets the raw end of the deal in these matters so maybe he'd just go ahead.

He proceeded to ask permission to marry Naomi.

I gave him my blessing.

Naomi Van Tassell has a nice ring to it. :]

Parents

Last night I watched an episode of Oprah about people whose lives were changed in seconds. Stephanie and Christian Nielsen from the Nie Nie Dialogues (I have the link to her blog on my sidebar) were some of the guests. It is an amazing story of trial, faith and healing. One of the things that touched me the most was an interview with her parents and brothers and sisters. Her mom sat there with tears running down her cheeks as she told about Stephanie being in a medically induced coma for 3 months while she recovered from 3rd degree burns over 80% of her body. She would whisper in Stephanie's ear, "You can do it!"



I am in no way comparing myself to Stephanie, but her mom reminded me of mine. Five years ago I had double hernia repair surgery. My mom had a really hard time climbing stairs, but every day for a week she climbed the stairs to my bedroom while I was recovering, to keep me company. She sat in the recliner and watched movies with me (I got her hooked on the 6 hour version of Pride and Prejudice), or we would just visit. She would help me in and out of bed and cry with me when I cried. While I was in the bathroom she would straighten out the bed and have it all ready for me to climb back in. Meanwhile, my dad would come over a couple of times during the day to check on us and one time he surprised me with a big wooden get well card which I still have.
I have amazing parents and I know they still love and care about me. I am so lucky to be a parent myself. I can't think of any greater privilege (unless it's to be a grandparent!)

P.S. I had trout tonight! Nanette and Chris treated us to Red Lobster. I always get the double portion so I have some for breakfast. Thanks Nanette and Chris for getting me out of the house and cheering me up! Thanks Ethan for eating "trees" with me. Thanks Logan for all the hugs and macaroni and cheese hands!

My DAY

Bad DAY

Sad DAY

Glad to go to bed DAY

mEEk

From the Past

Katie has this picture hanging on her

bulletin board and I couldn't resist

taking a picture of it because I have

to do a double take when I look at it.

Who do you think the kids look like?

I think Ethan looks like Nanette, Logan could be Katie's twin if he had long hair and blue eyes, and I see a lot of similarities between Dane and Braiden.

It's all in the genes.

Is It Spring Yet?

The temperature dropped this week and there is snow on the mountains.

It feels like spring at our house though.

There's a feeling of anticipation in the air.
Dane will be home in a little more than 3 weeks!

There is so much deep cleaning going on as we are changing rooms in order for Dane to have a room when he gets home that it feels like spring cleaning.
My scrapbook room is becoming Caleb's bedroom.
His room will be Dane's room.
The scrapbook stuff is squeezing back into the sewing room.
Not a bad trade for Dane!

Someone at our house is newly "twitterpated".
I won't mention names, but she is my favorite unmarried daughter and sure deserves to be happy and in love.

So, the wind may be howling outside, and my nose is an icicle once again, but there's a feeling of hope and excitement at the Jensen house!

SIGNAGE

I've been collecting pictures of funny signs.

Here's one from a few weeks ago in Rawlins, WY.

"Clean Rooms - American Owned"
(Just in case you're wondering if you've wandered across the border)

This picture isn't a sign, but it was also taken on the trip to Wyoming:

I guess he didn't have a tarp for his trailer!

Slacker

I am a major slacker with my blog

but I plan to try and change that

by blogging every day in October.

Another reason I'm a slacker:

I was watching "18 kids and counting" on TLC

and realized that the Duggars

have been married

the same amount of years

as Kent and I (25)

and Michelle Duggar

is the same age as I am.

She has 3 times the number

of kids as I do.

And she's pregnant

with number 19!

Boy do I feel like a slacker!

My hero Michelle Duggar